PTSD and Trauma Research and Referral
The following organizations and references will help you in researching PTSD and trauma.
American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress (AAETS)
National Center for Crisis Management (NCCM)
The American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, in collaboration with the National Center for Crisis Management, are multidisciplinary networks of professionals who are committed to the advancement of intervention for survivors of traumatic events and crisis situations. The Academy and the Center aim to identify expertise among professionals, across disciplines, and provide meaningful standards for those who work regularly with survivors and crisis situations. The Academy's and Center’s Traumatic Stress and Crisis Management Library provide publications and practical information for survivors of traumatic events and crisis situations and for professionals who address their needs.
The Academy’s and the Center’s international membership include individuals from over 200 professions in the health-related fields, emergency services, criminal justice, forensics, law and education. Members have joined these organizations from every U. S. state and from over fifty-eight foreign countries.
AAETS and NCCM provide a standard for those who regularly work with survivors, and have developed certification programs in several specialty areas. The Academy’s and Center’s official membership directory and referral network may be accessed through their Professional Directory on their websites.
Go to: http://www.aaets.org. or http://www.nc-cm.org. Write: AAETS/NCCM, Administrative Offices, 368 Veterans Memorial Highway, Commack, NY 11725. Phone: 631-543-2217.
Australasian Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ASTSS)
With chapters in every Australian state, the ASTSS is a body of professionals, researchers and survivors who promotes the advancement of knowledge about the nature, consequences and treatment of reactions to highly stressful experiences. The website provides a description of the Society’s activities.
Go to: http://www.astss.org.au. Write: ASTSS, PO Box 6227, Halifax St, South Australia. E-mail: davidk@ victimsa.org.
Canadian Traumatic Stress Network (CTSN)
(Reseau Canadien Du Stress Traumatique). The CTSN is a Canadian network for people involved in some way with traumatic stress. Its mission is to provide resources for education, training, public awareness, and research and professional development, as well as to foster communication among those affected by traumatic stress, those alleviating it, and those studying it.
Go to: http://www.ctsn-rcst.ca. Write: David S. Hart, Ph.D., ECPS, Education Faculty, University of British Columbia, 2125 Main Mall Vancouver, BC, Canada. david.hart@ubc.ca Phone: 866-288-2876.
CopShock Video
On July 17, 2001, the A&E Television Network broadcast a program based on the book CopShock. Titled “Cop Counselors,” it shows the effects of trauma on police officers involved in shootings and the day-to-day stress of the job. It discusses the emotional and psychological impact on police officers, including suicide, and what some police therapists are doing to try to alleviate the pain. The video is often shown in police academies, peer support groups and law enforcement college courses. The program was part of the Investigative Reports series hosted by Bill Kurtis, and features interview pieces with the author of CopShock.
Go to: http://store.aetv.com. Enter “Cop Counselors” in the search box. Item number is AAE-73422, 50 minutes.
CopShock Website
Among other things, the CopShock website features an article describing one of the few successful PTSD-based lawsuits filed by a police officer against a police department and health care organization in the United States. From time to time, other articles and resources appear on the website.
Go to: http://www.copshock.com
Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma
At the top of the Dart Center’s website, it declares that it is “A global resource for journalists who cover violence,” and its pur-pose is to improve media coverage of trauma, conflict and tragedy.
The Center also addresses the consequences of such coverage for those working in journalism. This is a valuable resource not only for journalists in the traditional media, but also for police (officer) journalists who often cover violent stories. Police journalists suffer emotionally and psychologically from seeing so much violence, and this website offers them an opportunity to learn about themselves and how to combat PTSD, trauma, and other stress illnesses.
Go to: http://www.dartcenter.org. Write: Dart Center for Journalism & Trauma, Department of Communication, 102 Communications Building, PO Box 353740, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195. Phone: Toll-free 800-332-0565. 206-616-3223.
The Dart Center is also located in Europe and Australia. In London, write: Dart Centre for Journalism & Trauma, 13 Norfolk Place, London W2 1Q1, UK. Phone: +44 20-8123-3549. The phone number for Melbourne, Australia, is: +61 (0) 419131947.
David Baldwin’s Trauma Information Pages
Psychologist David V. Baldwin’s trauma site provides an enormous amount of information and resources. He defines Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Secondary Traumatization and discusses different treatment approaches including reexperiencing/resolving traumatic experiences and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR).
He provides information on trauma organizations and e-mail discussion groups. The Trauma Pages also include selected articles from professional journals on traumatic stress, references on Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) and EMDR, and supportive links to many other websites.
A visit to this site is a must for everyone, whether police, civilian, or war veteran who suffers from trauma or lives with someone who does.
Go to: http://www.trauma-pages.com. If you live in Eugene, Oregon, phone Dr. Baldwin at: 541-686-2598. Otherwise, e-mail is best: dvb@trauma-pages.com.
European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS)
ESTSS promotes the exchange of research and knowledge about the effects of traumatic stress and the application of this knowledge base into clinical practice and social policy. Represent-ed in this organization are members from all across Europe.
Go to: http://www.estss.org. Write: ESTSS secretariat, Churchilllaan 11, 3527 GV Utrecht, The Netherlands. Telephone: +31 (0)30 – 2968000.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
EMDR is a proven method of psychotherapy that helps many survivors of traumatic events including police officers. Trials and studies have shown its effectiveness in resolving single and multiple traumas. On the website for the EMDR Institute, Dr. Francine Shapiro, creator of EMDR, describes its process and offers information on qualified clinicians.
Go to: http://www.emdr.com. Write: EMDR Institute, Inc., PO Box 750, Watsonville, CA 95077. Phone: 831-761-1204.
Therapist David Grand practices EMDR in New York state. I’ve talked with several of his clients including police officers who found relief from PTSD symptoms after several EMDR sessions. David’s website describes his process. Among other things, his website also provides information on audio tapes and CDs about the work he does.
Go to: http://www.biolateral.com. Write: David Grand, 2415 Jerusalem Avenue, Suite 105, Bellmore, NY 11710. Phone: 516-826-7996.
Gift From Within
Gift From Within is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to those who suffer from Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), those at risk for PTSD, and those who care for traumatized individuals. This site features a number of well written and informative articles on PTSD and related topics (grief, recovery from motor vehicle accidents, school trauma and police and emergency rescue trauma), plus a peer support network, coping and inspirational stories, a list of retreats for survivors, support groups, and educational videos, books and other resources.
Go to: http://giftfromwithin.org. Write: Gift from Within, 16 Cobb Hill Rd., Camden, Maine 04843. Phone: 207-236-8858.
International Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ISTSS)
The ISTSS provides a forum for sharing theory, research, clinical interventions, and public policy related to the consequences of traumatic stress in the U.S. and around the globe. It publishes The Journal of Traumatic Stress, accessible on the website.
Go to: http://www.istss.org. Write: ISTSS, 60 Revere Drive, Suite 500, Northbrook, IL 60062. Phone: 847-480-9028.
Internet Mental Health
This website features American and European interpretations of disorders and describes medications, treatments and causes for an extensive list of problems such as alcohol and drug abuse, depression, panic attacks and PTSD. The website also offers online diagnosis.
Go to: http://www.mentalhealth.com.
MentalHelp.Net
With articles, news, book reviews, self-help resources, and much more, Mental Help Net’s purpose is to educate the public about mental health and wellness. Run by clinical psychologists, the information is accurate and up-to-date on many subjects such as PTSD, depression, eating disorders, panic disorder and their treatments.
Go to: http://www.mentalhealth.net. To contact them, please use their online form.
National Center for PTSD
The National Center for PTSD’s website contains a remarkable amount of information and resources for both professional and nonprofessional readers. The Center conducts research into PTSD, trains VA clinicians, and provides information on PTSD to veterans and their families, researchers, clinicians, and members of the public.
The website’s most notable feature is its “PILOTS” database, an electronic worldwide index to thousands of publications on PTSD, with citations and abstracts. There is no charge for using the database, and no account or password is required. Although The National Center for PTSD is a program of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the PILOTS database is not limited to literature on PTSD among veterans, but includes information on everyone affected by PTSD, including law enforcement officers.
Go to: http://www.ncptsd.va.gov/ncmain/index.jsp. or to: http:// www.ncptsd.org. E-mail: ncptsd@va.gov. Phone: the PTSD Infor-mation Line at 802 296-6300 or at 802-296-5132.
If you are in need of immediate crisis counseling, please contact VA’s suicide hotline at 1-800-273-TALK; counselors are available 24/7 to help.
NetWellness
Created and evaluated by health care professionals at the University of Cincinnati, Case Western Reserve University and the Ohio State University, NetWellness offers the world’s largest base of medical experts who provide online consumer health information. Although slanted toward physical illness, the site provides access to thousands of publications that describe the latest research on PTSD, stress and trauma. Because psych-ological trauma may provoke physical afflictions, this site offers advice on trauma’s effects on the body.
The “Ask An Expert” section features pharmacists, nurses, physicians and other health professionals who provide answers to users’ health questions.
Go to: http://www.netwellness.org. Write: NetWellness, 231 Albert Sabin Way, PO Box 670574, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267. Phone: 513-558-8766.
Sidran Foundation
Named for its founding donor, Texas philanthropist Kate Sidran, the Sidran Foundation is a national, nonprofit, charitable organization devoted to education, advocacy and research to benefit people suffering from trauma.
To support people with trauma-generated disorders and to educate the public about them, the Sidran Foundation has developed a number of resources including books, a catalog of the best in trauma literature and videos, a database of therapists, a
low-cost clinic and a fund for research.
Go to http://www.sidran.org. Write: Esther Giller, President and Director, The Sidran Foundation, 200 East Joppa Road, Suite 207, Baltimore, MD 21286. For ordering literature, call: 410-825-8888 or toll-free 888-825-8249.
See also: Counseling
For more research and referral sources.